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judyylino's reviews
82 reviews
The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
"observation is at its core an expression of love which doesn’t get caught up in sentiment"
I feel like this quote alone summarizes this entire novel, because of how much the couple grew attached to Chibi (the cat) the more she visited and stayed over, although she wasn't their "own".
I really enjoyed this novel and it's really good at being what it is; a couple's mundane life and how similar it is to most people lives nowadays even though this is set between 80's and 90's Japan. But at least they had the chance to cherish chibi who brought joy into their lives
I really enjoyed this novel and it's really good at being what it is; a couple's mundane life and how similar it is to most people lives nowadays even though this is set between 80's and 90's Japan. But at least they had the chance to cherish chibi who brought joy into their lives
Agua Viva by Clarice Lispector
dark
sad
slow-paced
1.0
I have never been relieved to be done with something so much in my entire reading journey.
To be completely frank, I was warned since the beginning that Clarice Lispector has an unconventional writing style and that the punctuation and the writing aren't comfortable, the latter is said so by the author herself so I can't really complain I still went it and read the entire thing and I had to take breaks because I almost got a stoke.
This is such a nice concept, and it's such a shame because I couldn't wrap my head around one single thought
To be completely frank, I was warned since the beginning that Clarice Lispector has an unconventional writing style and that the punctuation and the writing aren't comfortable, the latter is said so by the author herself so I can't really complain I still went it and read the entire thing and I had to take breaks because I almost got a stoke.
This is such a nice concept, and it's such a shame because I couldn't wrap my head around one single thought
Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion by Jia Tolentino
informative
slow-paced
2.25
I've never heard of jia tolentino before so this was quite literally my first impression of her.
I had high hopes for this one but it unfortunately fell short to me but it doesn't mean that it was horribly written it just felt like it was dragging sometimes and only a few essays stood out to me because most of these topics are always discussed online and it was nothing new and you don't even need to he chronically online to get it. In short, this lacked originality in many ways
I had high hopes for this one but it unfortunately fell short to me but it doesn't mean that it was horribly written it just felt like it was dragging sometimes and only a few essays stood out to me because most of these topics are always discussed online and it was nothing new and you don't even need to he chronically online to get it. In short, this lacked originality in many ways
Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi
challenging
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
I feel so broken to the point I feel that I am speechless and anything I say with never amount to the courage Firdaus had (may she rest in peace). She was simply a woman who was failed by every adult in her life and was taken advantage of at every chance and opportunity that it filled me with disgust and rage and immense sadness. Firdaus, your story will forever live with me as long as I live because you made me see the world through different lenses
"All women are victims of deception. Men impose deception on women and punish them for being deceived, force them down to the lowest level and punish them for falling so low, bind them in marriage and then chastise them with menial service for life, or insults, or blows."
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
First novel I read by Claire Keegan and to say that I am grateful that have picked it up is an understatement.
This is a story about a family man named Bill Furlong, a family man who has a wife and five daughters whom he is deeply proud of, and in such times (1985) where most Irish families are struggling to make ends meet, he is able to provide for his humble family. Bill is also a person whose mother is single mother but was taken care of by a wealthy widow and grew up under her care. Hadn't it been for her, his mother's fate could have ended up like Sarah who was held up in something like Magdalen laundries that were under the catholic church which was another institution that took advantage of unwed mothers, sex workers and any women that dared to speak. This is a must read for everyone, because if it weren't for this novel I wouldn't have learned about the Magdalen laundries history
This is a story about a family man named Bill Furlong, a family man who has a wife and five daughters whom he is deeply proud of, and in such times (1985) where most Irish families are struggling to make ends meet, he is able to provide for his humble family. Bill is also a person whose mother is single mother but was taken care of by a wealthy widow and grew up under her care. Hadn't it been for her, his mother's fate could have ended up like Sarah who was held up in something like Magdalen laundries that were under the catholic church which was another institution that took advantage of unwed mothers, sex workers and any women that dared to speak. This is a must read for everyone, because if it weren't for this novel I wouldn't have learned about the Magdalen laundries history
The Driver's Seat by Muriel Spark
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
This book nearly gave me a migraine and I'm not even exaggerating when I say that I am still clutching my head from the sheer whirlwind this novel had been. Lise is an enigma from beginning to end, you think you know but you think "but is she", barely any straight facts and I was confused and frustrated trying to put her in a box and categorize her to help me understand her and see her in a clearer picture but she refused. Oh my God, the way she lived such a mundane life at first but afterwards she wanted to leave a mark or a stain which makes sense why at first she was so upset by the stainless dress. She wanted to be seen and heard and wanted to have company. She left her mark everywhere from her passport to her keys and her book and at the end she chose such a drastic measure to do so, by orchestrating her own murder after escaping death by two men who only wanted her for their pleasure I wish I got to know her more
"you’re going abroad for your vacation, there is always the marks that you pick up on your journey. "
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
"For someone who loved words as much as I did, it was amazing how often they failed me."
In typical Shakespearian style this novel was tragic and painful from beginning to end. Never seem a friendship dynamic so messy yet so close to the point that I didn't know whether I liked them or hated them, so I decided to do both.
Although the culprit and the "plottwist" was glaringly obvious from the moment the incident happened, it didn't take away from the joy of discovering and learning more about them no matter how ugly it got. And it was very interesting to me how they always resort of Shakespeare's character whenever they feel like words fail them even in their conversations, so they can feel heard and understood
Although the culprit and the "plottwist" was glaringly obvious from the moment the incident happened, it didn't take away from the joy of discovering and learning more about them no matter how ugly it got. And it was very interesting to me how they always resort of Shakespeare's character whenever they feel like words fail them even in their conversations, so they can feel heard and understood
How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
"We lose each other, or the way we know each other gets lost. "
Each and every single story shattered something in me the only flaw of this book is that it is not longer.
I love how it explored family dynamics, relationships social hierarchy and Lao immigrant experience in a western country. How it's like to leave your country that you loved so much, where you were something great, where you felt like you belonged and have that taken from you because of war. All of this explored in such a subtle way of recounting the mundane uneventful but difficult life.
I love how it explored family dynamics, relationships social hierarchy and Lao immigrant experience in a western country. How it's like to leave your country that you loved so much, where you were something great, where you felt like you belonged and have that taken from you because of war. All of this explored in such a subtle way of recounting the mundane uneventful but difficult life.
Mr Salary by Sally Rooney
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
My love for him felt so total and so annihilating that it was often impossible for me to see him clearly at all
Something about her mundane life is so gut wrenching
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This has been one of the darkest and most uncomfortable reads I have done so far, which is unusual of me because I never shy away from books that has these themes.
You could say the author did such a good job of predicting what society 90+ years would look like, especially recently with the rise of fascism in the western world. Not to forget the normalization of narcotics consumption, fear of aging and looking your age, lust and lack of commitment between partners, social hierarchy and supremacy and being conditioned to believe that all this is normal behavior. Going to such extremes, all in the name of happiness
You could say the author did such a good job of predicting what society 90+ years would look like, especially recently with the rise of fascism in the western world. Not to forget the normalization of narcotics consumption, fear of aging and looking your age, lust and lack of commitment between partners, social hierarchy and supremacy and being conditioned to believe that all this is normal behavior. Going to such extremes, all in the name of happiness